Valve-operating mechanism for internal-combustion engines.



` R. A. DRESSER. l vALvE oP'ERATrNG NEcHANxsM Foa INTERNAL coMusnoN ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED 1ULY13| 1915.

Patented May 30,I916.

2 snEETs-sNEEfr l.

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' R. A. DRESSER. l VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM I-'OR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

I APPLICATI'IGN FILED .IULY I3. |915. 1,185,295.

Patented May 30,1916..

2 SHEETS- SHEET 2.

II. "lum Ilmm llmn l iwf/Won l Ano/mgm UNiTED sTAfrns'fr ROBERT A. nnnssnn, OF'BRADFORD; PENNSYLVANIA.

VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINI'ES.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. DRnssnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bradford, lin the county of McKean and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Operating Mechanism for Internal- Combustion Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention A selected by me for purposes of illustration,

and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

Referring to the said drawings: Figure 1 is a detail view, partly in section, illustratmlttlng lt to remain in closed position durshaft of an internal combustion engine, a movable inlet or exhaust valve and one embodiment of my improved valve operating mechanism for operating the valve from the crank shaft at every alternate revolution of the same, the parts in this figure being shown in position to actue ate the valve. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in the positions which they occupy during the revolution of the crank shaft in which the valve is notl operated. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, of part of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 adjacent to the crank shaft. Fig. 4 is abottom plan view of the part shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 6 is a detail view of a part of the-mechanism. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a detail view showing aslight modification of `the shifting pawl which is specially adapted for use with ver# tically disposed valve actuating rods.

In internal combustion engines of the four cycle or Otto cycle type, as is well known, the piston in eachcylinder makes four movements, or two reciprocations for each cycle, accompanied by two complete revolutions of the crank shaft of the engine to which the piston rod is connected. The exhaust valve and in many cases the inlet valve are operated positively in timed relation with the crank shaft, but each of said ing the crank valves must be actuated only once in two Specification of Letters Patent.

revolutions of the crankshaft'and for this..

Patented May 30, 1916. Application mea July 13, 1915. serial No. 39,704.

purpose it is customary'i'n engines of A'this kind to employ a second motion shaft, generally termed the cam shaft, or valve actuating shaft, or half speed shaft, which is connected by gearing with the crank shaft so as to'rotate once for each two revolutions of the crank shaft, and mechanism isprovided for directly actuating the exhaust valve and in some cases the` inlet valve and igniters from this second motion shaft.

The object of my present invention isrto`v l dispense entirely'with the second motion shaft and the gearing connecting the vsame i with the crank shaft, and to actuate the exhaust valve of each cylinder, for instance,

(and if desired the inlet valveand igniter) directly fromthc crank shaft by means of mechanism provided for the actuation of the valve (or other part) during every alternate revolution of the crank shaft and per- Ving the other revolutions.

lnent which extends through 180 degrees of crank travel which affords ample time for' the exhausting of the engine cylinder in the case of an exhaust valve, and for the drawing in of a charge in case of an inlet valve,

as the valve is maintained. Ipractically in open position during the entire stroke of the piston. Y

In the drawings, I have shown so much yof an explosive engine of the horizontal type as is necessary for a clearv understanding of my invention, although itis to be understood as i I hereinafter pointed out that my invention is equally applicable to the vertical type.

v In vthefdrawings, 1 represents a portion of an engine cylinder providedvwith an exhaust passage, 2, which is closed by an exhaust valve,v3, adapted to engage a valve seat, .4, and provided with a stem, 5, extending through a guiding sleeve or bushing,v 6, andV provided with a retracting spring, 7 ,which surrounds said sleeve and engages a collar, 8, secured to the valve stem, these parts being of usual or well known construction, the specie ldetails of which form no part of my invention.

10 represents the crank shaft of the engine and in the embodiment of my inventionhere-4 l in shown it is-provided with an eccentric, 11, which engages an eccentric strap, 12, providedlwith .an open yoke, l13, the outer end of which is provided with a sleeve, 14, to receive the valve actuating rod, 15. The actuating rod, 15,'is connected with the valve stem through the intervention of the usual valve slide, 16, held in a guide, 17, formed K on or secured to the engine frame or cylinder,

v 16, to the usual rod end, 19, secured to the actuating rod, 15.

The valve actuating rod, 15,r extends Y loosely through the sleeve, 14, at the outer end of the yoke, 13, connected with the eccentric strap, and said rod is provided within said yoke with a movable stroke transmitting or alternating device so constructed and operating that the rod, 15, will be actuated by the eccentric at every alternate revolution of the shaft, 10. In the present instance, I have shown the end of the rod 15 asv screw threaded and screwedinto a threaded opening in an eccentric4 slide, 20, and held securely in position by' avset nut, 21,. The eccentric slide, 20, is provided with guiding faces at` top and bottom, indicated at 22, to engage bearing portions, 23, on the eccentric yoke, 13, and said eccentric slide is provided at opposite sides with bearing arms, 24, in which is mounted the .movable stroke transmitting or alternating device which in the present Iinstance is in the form of a star wheel, 25, provided with four lugs or projections, 26, disposed at equal distances around the center and having planeV outer faces adapted to engage the plane outer face of a striker lug, 27 at the inner end of the eccentric yoke, 13, as clearlyl shown inthe Figs. 1 and 3, the said star wheel being provided between the lugs or projections, 26, with recesses, 28, adapted to receive the striker lug, 27 in certain positions of the star wheel as shown in Fig. 2 and thus prevent the actuation of the rod, 15.

The alternating device or star wheel, 25,

. is preferably' provided with means for holding it in one of its several positions, consist- 'ing in this instance of an octagonal device,

I 29, connectedwith the star wheel and in this instance formed on one end of a bushing, 30, extending through the star wheel and secured thereto, which coperates with a flat spring 31, secured to inwardly projecting lugs on one of the bearing arms, 24, and having its central portions adaptedv to engage the fiat or-plane faces of the octagonal part, 29, so as to hold the alternating' device or star wheel accurately in its alternating operative and inoperative positions. The lugs ofthe star wheel.` are shifted into and out of operative relation with the striker lug, 27, in `this instance, by imparting 'to the star wheel or alternating device intermittently a partial revolution, in this instance, g of a revolution. For this purpose I have provided a longitudinally movable shifting rod, 32, mounted in a guide, 33, on the eccentric yoke, 13, and provided at its outer end with a pivoted shifting pawl, 34, normally held in operative position by a weighted arm, 35, and provided with a hardened projectingplate, 36, riveted or otherwise secured to the pawl, 34, and forming a part thereof, the upper end of which is in a position to engage one of a series of eight circularly arranged studs or rollers, 37, on the star wheel for the purpose of imparting JS- revolution thereto each time that the shifting rod, 32, is moved longitudinally in a direction toward the star wheel. shifting rod is preferably forked to embrace the pawl, 34, and is provided with a transversely disposed shoulder, 38, which prevents the backward movement of the upper end of the pawl, and with an inclined shoulder, 39, adjacent thereto, to permit the pawl to rock en the return movement of the shift-v ing rod and pass over the studs or rollers, 37, of the star wheel which, at such time, will be held in its newly adjusted position by the engagement of the spring, 3l, and one of the faces of the octagonal boss, 29.

The shifting rod, 32, may be vretracted in any desired manner. In the present instance, I have shown the inner end of the shifting rod provided with an enlarged head, 40, notched to receive one end of the flat spring, 41, the outer end of which is clamped between lugs, 42, on the eccentric stra-p by a clamping bolt, 43. For the purpose of actuating-the shifting rod at each revolution of the crank shaft, I preferably provide the eccentric, 11, with an actuating roller or stud, 45, which is secured to the eccentric adjacent to its periphery and in advance of thecenter of the eccentric, as will be seen best in Fig. 2 in which the dotted line, -x, extends from the aXis of the crank shaft through the center of the eccentric, and the dotted line -g/ extends from the center of the crank shaft through the center of the stud or roller, 45. vThis stud or roller, 45, is so located as to engagethe head, 40, of the shifting rod, 32, therebyfproducing a longitudinal movement of the shifting rod with respect to the eccentric yoke, 13, before the yoke is moved forward by the eccentric, thus shifting the alternating device or star Wheel before the stroke of the eccentric occurs, and as each revolution of the actuating stud or roll, 45, shifts the alternating device or star wheel of a revolution, it will be readily apparent that at every alternate stroke of the eccentric yoke, the striker lug, 27, will engagethe end of one of the lugs, 26, thus imparting longitudinal movement to the valve actuating rod, 15, while on striker lug, 27, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,

before the eccentric yoke begins its movement in a direction toward the valve, the valve rod will be actuated as soon as the said movement of the yoke commences thus opening the valve which will be held open until the center of the eccentric reaches a position substantially 180 degrees therefrom when the eccentric yoke will have been returned to the same position and the valve permitted to close, Hence a rotation of substantially 180 degrees or a half revolution of the crank shaft or of the cycle of the engine occurs between the opening and the closing of the valve, as will be readily understood.

I have stated heretofore that my invention is also applicable to engines in which the valve stems are disposed vertically, and in which it may be desirable that the valve actuating rods shall extend vertically from the crank shaft. The embodiment of my invention herein yshown and described is applicable to such a construction with the eX- ception that in such case the weighted arm, 35, of the shifting pawl would be obviously located on the other side of the pivot. Thus in Fig. 8, I have shown a'modified form of pawl, 34a, provided with a striking plate, 36a, and weighted arm 35, located above the shifting rod, 32, which is provided with the transverse shoulder, 38a, against'which the pawl is held by the weighted arm, 35a. This form of pawl could lbe used for a horizontally disposed actuating rod, but is particularly adapted which the rod, 15, as well as the shifting rod, 32, is disposed vertically.

During the alternate reciprocations of the eccentric yoke, 13, when the recesses, 28, of the star wheel are brought into alinement with the striker lug, 27, it is obvious that the valve will not be actuated and that the sleeve, 14, will merely slide upon the rod, 15, and the bearing portions, 23, of the yoke will slide upon the faces, 22, of the eccentric slide and during this time the valve is held closed by its spring, 7, which is strong enough to over-come any frictional resistance between the eccentric yoke and the rod, 15, and slide, 20.

While I have shown my invention as applied to an exhaust valve it is obvious that it could also be readily applied to an inlet valve and also to an igniter-mechanism, if desired, and may be used in any other connection in which the actuation of a part is for use with a construction in desired-one to every two revolutions of the actuating shaft. y

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 4

1. The combination with a rotary shaft, an actuating device carried thereby, and a yoke operatively rengaging said actuating device, of a reciprocating partv having a slide engagement with said yoke, one of said parts being provided with a striking lug and the other of said parts being provided with a movable deviceadapted to be moved into and out of 'operative position with respect to said striking lug, and shifting mechanism operated'by said rotary shaft -for moving said alternating deviceinto'and out of operative position.

2. The combination with alrotary shaft, an actuating device carried thereby, a reciprocating yo (e operated by said actuating device and provided with a striking part, oi' a-*reciprocating part independently movable with respect to said yoke and provided with a movable alternating device having portions adapted to be alternately brought into and out of said operative relation withA said sti iking part and shifting mechanism operated by said rotary shaft for shifting said alternating device'.

3. -The combination with a rotary shaft, an actuating part carried thereby, and a reciprocating device operatively connected with said actuating part and provided with a striking part, "of a reciprocating vpart independently vmovable with respectV to said reciprocating device and having a sliding engagement therewith, av rotary alternating device carried by said reciprocating part and provided with alternating projecting portions for engaging the said striking part and recesses between said projections, shifting mechanism carried by said reciprocating device for bringing said recesses and projections alternately into alinement with said striking part and means operatively connected with said shaft for actuating said shifting mechanism.

L1. The combination with a rotary shaft, an actuating part carried thereby, and a reciprocating device operatively connected with said actuating part and provided with a striking part, of a reciprocating part independently movable with respect to said reciprocating device and having a sliding engagement therewith, a rotary alternating device carried by said reciprocating part and provided with alternating projecting portions for engaging the said striking part and recesses between said projections, a circular series of projections on said rotary alternating device, a longitudinally movable shifting rod carried by said reciprocating device, and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, said shifting rod having a part adapted to engage the projections of isc said circular series of projections on the alternating device, and a part operatively .connected with the shaft for engaging said shifting rod for intermittently shifting the position of said alternating device.

5. The combination with a rotary shaft,

an actuating partcarried thereby, anda reciprocating` device operatively connected with said actuating part and provided with a striking point, of a reciprocating' part independently movable with respect to said .reciprocating device and having a Asliding engagement therewith, arotary alternating device carried by said reciprocating part and provided with alternating projecting 1 portions for engaging the said striking part vand a part operatively connected with said shaftfor actuating said shifting mechanism.

6.*The combination witha rotary shaft of an eccentric secured thereto, an eccentric strap engaging said eccentric `and provided with a yoke having a striking part, anda reciprocating rod having a sliding-engage- Y ment with said yoke, of a rotary alternating device connected with said rod and provided witli alternating projections adapted to engage the striking part of the yoke and recesses between said projections, and shifting mechanism for said rotary alternating device including a part movable loiigitudinally with respect to said yoke, and an actuating part on said eccentric for engaging 40,

said shifting mechanism.

7. The combination with a rotary shaft C opies oi this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of an eccentric secured thereto, an eccentric strap engaging said eccentric and provided with a yoke having a striking part, and a reciprocating rod having a sliding engagement with said yoke, of a rotary alternating device connected with said rod and provided with alternating projections adapted to engage the striking part of theyoke and recesses between said projections, shifting mechanism for said rotary alternatingl device including a part movable longitiidinally with respect to said yoke, and an actuating part for engaging and operating said shifting mechanism located on said eccentric in advance of the center of the actuating portion of said eccentric, for actuating said shifting mechanism before the movenient of said yoke toward said reciprocating rod.

8. The combination with a rotary shaft, an eccentric mounted thereon, and an eccentric strap engaging said eccentric and provided With a yoke portion and with a striking lug, of a reciprocating rod having a guiding engagement with said yoke and provided with a rota-ry alternating device having alternating projections and recesses adapted to`be brought intoA alinement with said striking part, yielding means ior holding said alternating device in position,'a longitudinally movable shifting rod carried by said yoke, and provided with an actuating pawl adapted to engage portions on said alternating device to partially rotate said device, a retiacting spring for said shifting rod, and an actuating stud on said eccen- .tric for engaging and actuating said shifting rod.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

ROBERT A. DRESSER.

of .Patents Washington. D. C. 

